Harvestmen / Daddy Longlegs in San Angelo
Harvestmen, also called daddy longlegs, are often mistaken for spiders, but they’re not real spiders. They’re called harvestmen because they’re seen a lot in late summer and fall during harvest time. Harvestmen don’t make silk or spin webs like spiders. They’re known for their really long, thin legs and small, round bodies. Sometimes, they gather in large groups near buildings, but they don’t hurt people, animals, structures, or crops.
Harvestmen / Daddy Longlegs Habitat
Harvestmen prefer damp areas and are usually seen in forests and caves, crawling on rocks and plants. In the warmer months, you can find them a lot on the shady parts of buildings, under eaves, in crawl spaces, and on trees, whether you’re in the city or the countryside. In the fall, harvestmen might gather in big groups on buildings, moving together like a wiggling mass, which might look unsettling to predators or people living there.
Harvestmen Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers
Harvestmen are helpful hunters in gardens as they feast on aphids, spiders, and other pests. They don’t bite or have venom, so they’re harmless to people. Yet, if they sense danger or get bothered, they release a peculiar odor that keeps predators away. Finding harvestmen indoors is uncommon, and because they’re night owls, being most active after dark, spotting them can be tricky.
If you are dealing with excess daddy longlegs spiders on your property, contact your local spider exterminators for help.
